The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has restored some federal funding to schools with students from poorer families. Next schoolyear, schools with 40 percent or more students on free or reduced-cost lunch programs get about $343 per student. The money should go to help pay for additional instruction and other costs connected to the student. Schools including Ocean Beach Elementary, on Santa Monica Avenue, and University City High School, on Genesee Avenue, were cut out of federal funding because of recent board decisions to put more money toward schools with a higher concentration of students from financially struggling families. As the board restores some federal funding to schools in poorer areas, the rest of the district continues to struggle with current-year and projected budget cuts. Putting off buying new school buses, curtailing travel for teachers and potential layoffs to district administrative office personnel represent some of the budget-cut items SDUSD board members approved Tuesday, Feb. 10, as they try to close an estimated $33 million midyear budget gap and an estimated $75 million budget deficit next year. Board member Katherine Nakamura voted against proposed midyear cuts because, she said, there wasn’t enough information to make a decision. She crumpled up the single sheet of paper representing $33 million and tossed it aside after the 3-2 approval of the 2008-09 midyear budget plan. Nakamura and board member John de Beck voted against the plan, with board president Shelia Jackson and board members John Lee Evans and Richard Barrera voting for it. Nakamura’s objections included a vaguely described $7.7 million cut from nonschool sites. “Who is taking what hit in Central office and what does that mean?” Nakamura asked the deliberating board and staff. “Are we getting the financial document[s] we need?” Nakamura directed staff to come back with more information about the cuts at a special board meeting Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Eugene Brucker Education Center. De Beck said the cuts don’t represent a long-term solution. De Beck represents schools in Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Bird Rock and La Jolla. Although the board is trying to avoid layoffs, de Beck said they’re a possibility. “I don’t see that the savings are there that don’t involve rollbacks in salary,” de Beck said. Proposed midyear budget solutions include tapping into $4.5 million in workers compensation funds and maintaining a hiring freeze that should result in an estimated $6.2 million in midyear savings. Time is ticking for budget decisions as the district runs up against San Diego County deadlines. SDUSD Chief Financial Officer James Masias said if the district doesn’t decide on a current-year solution and a 2-year outlook plan soon, the county will do it. Masias said he plans to meet with county officials this week. He added that the current budget crisis changes the way school site budgets are allocated. “We’re looking at every school site to see what is it that you don’t need [to operate],” he said. The board also addressed next year’s estimated $75 million budget deficit. Cuts next year could bring reduction in Central office staff, increased class sizes and elimination of off-campus learning programs in Balboa Park and Old Town. According to SDUSD staff reports, for every closed school with fewer than 400 students, the district can save about $450,000. Several beach-area schools, including Crown Point Elementary, on Ingraham Street, Bay View Terrace Elementary, on Fogg Street, and Barnard Elementary, on Barnard Street, showed up on a list of schools the district was considering closing or reconfiguring. The SDUSD board reconvenes to discuss the fiscal year 2009-10 budget Feb. 14, at 8 a.m., at Eugene Brucker Education Center Auditorium, 4100 Normal St.